Chapter 7 - The Secret Hidden Before the Funeral
The watch sat on Matteo Viscari’s desk all night.
He did not sleep.
He did not leave.
He simply stared at the object that had appeared nine years after his brother’s death.
The date engraved on the back refused to leave his mind.
Tomorrow.
Someone knew something was coming.
Someone wanted him to know.
Clara arrived at the office before sunrise.
She expected Matteo to look exhausted.
Instead, he looked exactly the same as always.
Controlled.
Cold.
Silent.
But she noticed the difference.
The old Matteo hid behind silence.
This Matteo was using silence to think.
“Did you sleep?” Clara asked.
“No.”
“Eat?”
“No.”
She placed a coffee cup on his desk.
“You’re terrible at taking care of yourself.”
Matteo looked at the coffee.
Then at her.
“You’re terrible at knowing when to stop.”
“Maybe.”
She sat across from him.
“But I’m usually right.”
A small pause.
Then, unexpectedly, Matteo picked up the coffee.
Clara noticed.
“You accepted my coffee.”
“Don’t make it important.”
“It is important.”
“It’s coffee.”
“No.”
She smiled slightly.
“It means you trust me enough not to assume I poisoned it.”
For a second, Matteo almost smiled.
Almost.
Then his expression returned.
Clara looked at the files spread across his desk.
“What did you find?”
“Nothing.”
She frowned.
“Nothing?”
“That’s the problem.”
Matteo pushed several documents toward her.
“Someone removed every record connected to Leo’s investigation.”
Clara scanned the papers.
“Completely?”
“Yes.”
“Even backups?”
“Yes.”
“That’s impossible.”
“Exactly.”
She looked at him.
“Someone with high-level access.”
Matteo nodded.
“Someone who understood our security system.”
“And someone who knew what Leo was searching for.”
The room became quiet.
Because that narrowed the list.
Too much.
Clara opened the old employee records.
“Let’s start with the people who had access nine years ago.”
Matteo watched her work.
“You’re assuming the betrayal started before Leo died.”
“It did.”
“How do you know?”
“Because someone spent nine years hiding it.”
She looked up.
“People don’t hide something that happened yesterday unless they’re afraid. They hide something for nine years because they know eventually someone will find it.”
Matteo stared at her.
There was something different about Clara.
She did not approach problems like an employee.
She approached them like someone who had lost something too.
“Why are you helping me?”
The question surprised her.
“Because someone is trying to destroy you.”
“That’s not the only reason.”
Clara looked down.
For a moment, she said nothing.
Then she answered.
“Because I know what it feels like when someone’s memory becomes the only thing keeping you standing.”
Matteo listened.
“My father died when I was young.”
She looked at the files.
“After that, everyone told me to move on.”
A pause.
“People say that when they don’t understand grief.”
Matteo looked at her.
“And you?”
“I didn’t move on.”
She smiled faintly.
“I learned how to carry it.”
For the first time, Matteo understood why she had broken through his walls.
She wasn’t trying to fix him.
She simply understood him.
Before he could respond, the office door opened.
Victor Hale entered.
Neither Matteo nor Clara moved.
Victor looked between them.
“I assume you have questions.”
Matteo leaned back.
“You came here voluntarily.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Victor placed a folder on the desk.
“Because I know what you found.”
Clara immediately watched his hands.
No shaking.
No hesitation.
Victor was calm.
Too calm.
“What is that?” Matteo asked.
“Something Leo left behind.”
Matteo’s expression changed.
“You knew?”
Victor looked at him.
“I knew Leo was investigating something.”
“And you never told me?”
Victor sighed.
“Because Leo asked me not to.”
The words hit the room.
Clara stood.
“You expect us to believe that?”
Victor looked at her.
“No.”
Then he looked at Matteo.
“I expect Matteo to remember who Leo was.”
Matteo’s jaw tightened.
“Explain.”
Victor opened the folder.
Inside were old documents.
Private notes.
Security reports.
And one letter.
Matteo recognized the handwriting immediately.
Leo.
His hands moved slightly.
But he did not pick it up.
“Read it.”
Victor said.
Matteo looked at him.
“You had this for nine years?”
“Yes.”
“And you said nothing?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Victor’s face changed.
For the first time, Clara saw something real.
Regret.
“Because Leo told me that if anything happened to him, I had to protect you.”
Matteo laughed once.
But there was no humor.
“You protected me by hiding the truth?”
“I protected you from destroying yourself.”
The room became silent.
Matteo picked up the letter.
The first line was simple.
Matteo, if you are reading this, I failed.
He stopped.
Clara watched his face.
Leo’s words continued.
But you need to know something. The person who betrayed us is not the person you suspect.
Matteo looked up.
Victor remained still.
Clara felt the tension change.
Because someone else was involved.
Someone they had not considered.
Matteo continued reading.
The person closest to the betrayal is someone who has access to everything. Someone who knows every weakness in this family.
He turned the page.
The next sentence was missing.
The paper had been torn.
Only half remained.
And the reason they wanted me gone was because I discovered that...
Nothing more.
The rest was destroyed.
Matteo looked furious.
“Who tore this?”
Victor answered quietly.
“I don’t know.”
“You had it.”
“Yes.”
“And someone damaged it?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
Victor looked away.
“After Leo died.”
Matteo stood.
“Who had access?”
Victor hesitated.
That hesitation was enough.
Clara noticed.
“You know.”
Victor looked at her.
“I know many things.”
“Then tell us.”
Victor looked at Matteo.
“Not here.”
Matteo’s eyes narrowed.
“Why?”
“Because this room is not secure.”
Clara looked around.
“This is your private office.”
Victor nodded.
“Exactly.”
Nobody spoke.
Because that meant only one thing.
Someone had access even here.
Victor stepped closer.
“There is something else you need to know.”
Matteo waited.
“Leo didn’t plan to expose the traitor publicly.”
“Why?”
“Because he believed the traitor would hurt everyone before being caught.”
Clara frowned.
“Everyone?”
Victor nodded.
“He wasn’t protecting the company.”
He looked at Matteo.
“He was protecting you.”
Matteo looked down at the letter.
Nine years.
Nine years believing Leo died because of him.
Nine years believing his brother’s sacrifice was his punishment.
But now every piece pointed to something else.
Leo had spent his final days trying to save him.
Then Matteo noticed something.
The corner of the letter.
A small symbol.
Three lines.
But underneath it was another message.
Not written by Leo.
Written later.
Different handwriting.
Clara leaned closer.
“What does it say?”
Matteo read the words.
His face changed.
Because the message was not a warning.
It was a confession.
Only four words.
Victor was not alone.
The office became silent.
Victor looked at the paper.
May you like
And for the first time…
he looked afraid.
